The Backstreet Boys consists of
Nick Carter, Brian "B-Rok"
Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Howard
"Howie D" Dorough, and Alexander
James "A.J." McLean. The band was
formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida. The
conception of the quintet started in high
school with McLean. Carter. and Dorough
starting to sing together after bumping into
each other at numerous acting auditions and
becoming friends. Richardson and Littrell
(Richardson's cousin from Kentucky)
eventually joined in. In 1994, the Backstreet
Boys signed with Jive Records. With a knack
for combining pop-rap lyrics with hip-hop
dance beats, the Backstreet Boys found a
large audience by 1997 all while maintaining
a clean-cut image.

DID YA KNOW?: Alexander
James "A.J." McLean appeared in over 27
plays by the 6th grade; appeared in
Nickelodeon's High Honey, I'm Home;
is a skilled puppeteer and cartoonist; also
called "Mr. Cool" and
"Bone" -- Brian
Thomas "B-Rok" Littrell grew up singing at his
church and other local functions -- Howard
Dwaine "Howie D." Dorough performed in community
theater and commercials; appeared in a
Nickelodeon pilot for Welcome Freshman;
appeared in the films Parenthood and
Cop And A Half -- Kevin
Scott Richardson grew up participating
in chorus and drama clubs; played keyboards
at weddings; was a tour guide at Disney World
-- Nick Gene Carter played the lead in Phantom
Of The Opera by age 12; appeared in
commercials.

The Backstreet Boys had a
moderate pop hit with "We've Got It Goin' On." International
success happened quickly for the group with
super-stardom in Europe, Britain, Australia,
Asia, and Canada, but took a little longer in
the U.S.

The Backstreet Boys hit it big
on the pop charts with the U.S. release of Backstreet
Boys. The first single, "Quit Playing Games
(With My Heart)" became their first Top 5
hit, and was followed up with the Top 5 hit
"As Long As You Love Me." The new LP was
an instant international hit - debuting at #1
in Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Finland and
Austria.

Backstreet
Boys was certified 6x platinum. The Backstreet Boys talked with
MTV: on the tour: "The crowds are
incredible, the response is incredible, the
energy that we get from the crowd"
(Richardson); on fame: "When the
Spice Girls came into the States, they hit it
really hard. We've been spreading ourselves
so much around the world that I guess there's
still a hunger for the Backstreet Boys
because we're not around as much on TV, and
what's been covering us has pretty much been
radio. That's what's been carrying our
success. It's a gradual, slow approach we're
taking with America and so hopefully we'll
have long term careers instead of being a
quick flash." (Dorough); "We want
longevity and we want the respect from
everyone as musicians and as artists"
(McLean). Approximately 50 fans were
treated for various injuries including
hyperventilation and fainting at a show in
Alberta. McLean of the landed in the
hospital after tearing a ligament in his leg
reportedly while performing during a day
performance. The remaining boys did put on a
show that night in Toronto.

The Backstreet Boys won a MTV Video Music
Awardfor Best Group Video ("Everybody
(Backstreet's Back)") and were also nominated
for Best Dance Video ("Everybody
(Backstreet's Back)"). The boys hit the Top
10
with "I'll Never Break Your
Heart."
The Backstreet Boys cancelled an
appearance in Minnesota after learning that
Howie Dorough's sister had died of lupus and
another member was stuck at a Florida
airport. The boys were to appear in the
"Last Change Summer Dance" and
decided to call off their appearance because
they would have to perform to late for their
youthful fans. Richardson said, "In 6
years of touring, we've never canceled a
show... we're sorry... it's important for us
to make it up." Dorough released a
statement about his sister's death:
"Regarding the recent passing of my
sister, Caroline Cochran, the outpouring of
emotion and sympathy I have received from
fans and the media has been overwhelming...
Caroline was only 37 when she lost her battle
with the disease called Lupus. This disease
affects the immune system, often striking
down young people like my sister in her
prime..." 4 of the Backstreet Boys went
ahead with a lawsuit against Louis "Big
Poppa" Pearlman, the man who discovered
and molded the group with $3 million of his
own money in '92. The lawsuit claims that the
Backstreet Boys are due more of the $200
million they have generated.

Backstreet
Boys was certified 7x platinum. The Backstreet Boys topped the
Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with
"I'll Never Break Your
Heart"
for 7 weeks. The Backstreet Boys were
nominated for 2 MTV Europe Music Awards for
Best Group and Best Pop Act.

The boys found out they are
being sued for $3 million by a stage
technician who was injured when a stage prop
fell on him after a July performance in
Virginia. The prop was a confetti cannon, and
the damages included in the suit include
physical injuries and emotional distress. Entertainment Weekly included
the Backstreet Boys on their list of
"1998's Top 12." The Backstreet Boys' debut LP
was the 3rd biggest-selling LP of 1998 with
5.7 million copies sold in the U.S. The boys won a MuchMusic Award
for People's Choice Favorite International
Group, a World Music Award for World's
Best-Selling Dance Artist/Group, and were
nominated for 2 European Music Awards for
Best Pop Video and Best Group Video. Backstreet
Boys was certified 9x platinum. The boys hit the Top 40 with
"All
I Have To Give."

The Backstreet Boys' next LP, Millennium, was released with the
first single "I
Want It That Way." First week sales for Millennium broke sales records
with first tallies topping 1.13 million
copies (breaking Garth Brook's record from last
December) and debuting at #1 (where it stayed
for several weeks). The Backstreet Boys took home 2
Blockbuster Awards for Favorite Group - Pop
and Favorite CD. The boys won a Nickelodeon Kid's
Choice Award for Favorite Song
("Everybody"). The boys hit the Top 40 with
"I
Want It That Way" and were in the Top
10 by
the end of the month - the single topped the
UK Singles chart for 2 weeks.

The Backstreet Boys hit #1 for the first time
with "I
Want It That Way" for 2 weeks. Millennium was certified 5x
platinum and topped the Billboard 200 Albums
chart for 10 weeks and the Billboard Internet
Album Sales chart for 3 weeks.

Backstreet
Boys was certified 11x platinum and Millennium was certified 6x
platinum. The Backstreet Boys sold over
765,000 tickets, selling out all 53 concert
dates of their Millennium Tour which kicked
off in September. The boys won a 'Teen Choice
Award' for Music Video of the Year ("All
I Have To Give").

Millennium was certified 8x
platinum. The boys began a legal battle to
remove themselves from Jive Records, in part
reportedly due to the label's recent efforts
to get 'N
Sync signed. The boys hit the Top
10
with "Larger
Than Life."

Millennium was certified 9x
platinum. Richardson was named People magazine's
"Sexiest Pop Star" and also
dislocated his shoulder while snowboarding. The band won a MTV European
Music Award for Best Group. The boys singed a multi-LP deal
with Jive Records worth $60 million.

The Backstreet Boys were
nominated for a People's Choice Award for
Favorite Musical Group and won 4 Billboard
Music Awards for Album of the Year (Millennium), Artist of the Year,
Album Artist Duo/Group of the Year, and Album
Artist of the Year. Backstreet
Boys was certified 12x platinum and Millennium was certified 11x
platinum. The Backstreet Boys topped the Billboard
Year-End Chart-Toppers as the Top Pop Artist
(singles & albums), Top Pop Artist -
Duo/Group (singles & albums), Top
Billboard 200 Album Artist, Top Billboard 200
Album Artist - Duo/Group, and with the Top
Billboard 200 Album (Millennium).

The Backstreet Boys won an American Music
Awardfor Favorite
Band/Duo/Group and were nominated for
Favorite Album (Millennium). The Backstreet Boys were named
Favorite Musical Group or Band at the
People's Choice Awards. Burger King inked a deal with
the boys that included tour sponsorship, a
video, and CDs with unreleased live tracks
available at the food chain. The video
included backstage footage and interviews
with the group members. The boys hit the Top 40 with
"Show
Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" which hit the Top
10 by
the end of the month.

The Backstreet Boys won a Juno
Award for Best-Selling Album (foreign or
domestic) (Millennium). McLean went solo for a bit as
"Johnny No-Name" for an appearance
in California.

The Backstreet Boys won a Kids'
Choice Award for Favorite Musical Group. Nick Carter made this year's
listing of People's "50 Most
Beautiful People."

The Backstreet Boys hit the Top
40 with "The
One."
The Backstreet Boys were heard
on Lionel Richie's LP, Renaissance on the track
"Cinderella." The Backstreet Boys were awarded
Favorite Group, Pop and Favorite CD at the
Blockbuster Awards. At the World Music Awards, the
Backstreet Boys walked away with Best Selling
Pop Group, R&B Group, and Dance Group and
Best American Group.

The Backstreet Boys hit the Top
10
with with "The
One."
Kevin Richardson married his
girlfriend.

The Backstreet Boys won a Teen
Choice Award for Album of the Year (Millennium).

The Backstreet Boys started
appearing in Burger King restaurants across
the U.S. and Canada in the form of an
exclusive CD and video featuring a new track
"It's True" and other unreleased
material. Littrell was married at the
start of the month. Dorough also went solo for a few
charity shows for the Caroline
Dorough-Cochran Lupus Foundation in honor of
his sister.

The Backstreet Boys hit the Top
10
with "Shape
Of My Heart" (and #1 in Canada). The Backstreet Boys released
their next LP, Black
And Blue. To promote the release of Black
And Blue, the boys traveled around the
world in 100 hours to Sweden, Japan,
Australia, South Africa, Brazil, and the U.S.
55 of the hours were in the air and 45 on the
ground making appearances. The group's
publicist stated that Black
And Blue broke records when it sold 5
million copies worldwide in its 1st week (1.6
units in the U.S. - less than recent releases
by 'N
Sync and Eminem). The boys also are
the first artists to achieve back-to-back
million-plus first week sales of their LPs. Rolling Stone
& MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs includes "I Want
It That Way" at # 10. The boys won a Radio Music Award
for Radio Slow Dance Song of the Year ("Show
Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely") and a MTV
Europe Music Award for Best Group.

Black
And Blue went #1 on Billboard's 200 LP
Chart, the Billboard Internet Album Sales
chart for a week, and in Canada. Black
And Blue was certified 8x platinum. Richardson announced plans to
for an environmental foundation - Just Within
Reach: An Earth Foundation.

The Backstreet Boys were
nominated for 2 Blockbuster Entertainment
Awards for Favorite Group and Favorite Group
- Pop. Backstreet
Boys was certified 14x platinum. The boys were nominated for a
Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Singing
Group.

The Backstreet Boys hit the Top
40 with "More Than That." The boys had their first TV
special: The Backstreet Boys: Larger Than
Life on CBS.

The Backstreet Boys began
touring starting in their hometown of
Orlando, Florida with their opening act Shaggy (who the boys opened
up for in 1995 during his European tour. The Backstreet Boys hit the Top 10 with "More Than That."

The Backstreet Boys'
summer tour was put on hold when it was
reported that McLean had checked into a
rehabilitation facility to deal with
alcoholism and depression. Richardson told
MTV: "We were advised...a lot of people
told us we could just lie about it, but we're
not going to lie to our fans, because
eventually the truth would have come out. We
didn't want to push it under the rug..."

The Backstreet Boys will
continue to postpone resuming their touring
due to McLean's rehab being extended for an
additional 2 weeks. All 5 members returned to
touring by the end of the month. Littrell formed an entertainment
production, BriLeigh Productions, with his
wife.

The Backstreet Boys hit the Top
40 with "Drowning." The Backstreet Boys
released a greatest hits compilation, Greatest
Hits - Chapter 1, with an accompanying
home video. The boys performed at The
Concert For New York City benefit concert in New
York City (later released as an LP) with
proceeds going to 9/11 charities. The boys also performed in a
Washington, DC concert benefiting the 9/11
attack victims.

Nick Carter was arrested in
Florida for refusing to leave a nightclub at
the request of police officers after a fight
broke out. Carter later said of the incident:
"Sometimes things get blown out of
proportion as everybody knows, but if I
disrespected a cop in any way, I apologize.
... People who know me know I'm not a bad
person. I know better."

The Backstreet Boys filed a
$75-100 million lawsuit against Zomba Music
Group which is the parent company of their
record label, Jive Records claiming breach of
contract. Littrell's wife gave birth to a
baby boy.

Richardson started performing on
stage in Chicago in the role of
'Billy Flynn'.

Nick Carter began a short solo
tour.

The Backstreet Boys got together
to decide their next move together, and the
decision was to wait awhile before doing
anything together, saying in a statement:
"As a group, we have decided not to
record our next album at this time. We are not breaking up, but
individually we are currently at different
places in our lives, and our hearts and minds
are focused in other areas. All of us are
getting along great and are supporting each
other in our individual endeavors."

Note: Song title and
position links lead you to the song's Top
40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top
40)
and LP links take you to Amazon.com's page for that LP
(often including track listings and sound
samples).